Pressure sensitive adhesive tape applicator



T. PETTERSON Nov. 7, 1967 PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE APPLICATOR Filed June 1, 1965 Z5 INVENTOR. 75B P57715850 if 94 ,4 77OEA/EY5 United States Patent 3,351,511 PRESS SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE APPLICATOR Tor Patterson, 2149 Paseo de Mar, San Pedro, Calif. 96732 Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,287 6 Claims. (Cl. 156-527) This invention relates to pressure sensitive tape applicators and included in the objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an adhesive tape applicator wherein an initial end of the tape is exposed for manual withdrawal or automatic withdrawal, in the latter case, by using the applicator for pressing the tape on a surface.

Second, to provide an adhesive tape applicator which incorporates a locking means adapted to lock the tape against withdrawal, but which is moved to a tape releasing pressure by pressure of the applicator on a surface, and wherein, on dispensing the desired amount of tape the locking means is reactivated by a simple rocking motion which also serves to position a cutting means for severing the tape.

Third, to provide an applicator which is particularly adapted to dispense pressure sensitive adhesive tape having minimal adherence to itself when in a roll and is so arranged that in applying the tape to yieldable fragile surfaces, the tape is not sketched, thereby minimizing sketching and consequently curling of the surface receiving the tape.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

IGURE 1 is a partial side view, partial sectional view of the pressure sensitive adhesive tape applicator.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken through 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken within circle 3 of FIGURE 1 showing particularly the tape dispensing elements.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken within circle 4 of FIGURE 3 showing the applicator in its tape dispensing position.

FIGURE 5 is a similar fragmentary sectional View showing the tape applicator as it is being rotated to its tape severing position.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken through 66 of FIGURE 4 showing the tape retaining means.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the looking and dispensing member removed from the housing.

The tape applicator includes a housing 1 having a bottom wall 2, an upwardly arched rear wall 3 joined to one end of the bottom wall and an upwardly sloping convex forward wall 4 joined to the other end of the bottom wall.

Near its forward extremity the forward wall is provided with a dispensinng slot 5. The rear extremity of the slot 5 is provided with several rudimentary tape retaining prongs 6 projecting into the housinng.

The bottom, rear and forward walls are joined to side Walls 7. The upper margins of the side walls extend rearwardly from the upper portion of the forward wall 4 in an essentially horizontal direction and then curve forwardly to join the upper extremity of the rear wall 3. Near the juncture of the horizontal and forwardly extending margins of the side walls, there is provided opposed journal receiving recesses 8.

The housing which receives a complementary cover 9 including a downwardly sloping convex top wall 10 extending from the rear wall 3 to the forward extremity of the forward wall 4. Adjacent the housing rear wall 3, the cover is provided with a latch lip- 11 which fits over the upper extremity of the housing rear wall 3. At its forward extremity, the top wall 10 forms a tip 12 which overlies the confronting extremity of the housing forward wall 4. Adjacent the tip 12, a web 13 extends downwardly and rearwardly from the top wall 10 and overlies a portion of the dispensing slot 5.

The cover 10 is provided with side walls 14 which are complementary to the side walls 7 of the housing 1. The side walls 14 are provided with complementary journal recesses 15.

A tape drum 16, having journal bosses 17 is rotatably supported in the journal recesses 8 and 15. The drum 16 carries a roll of tape 18 preferably pressure sensitive adhesive tape; however, other types of tape may be carried by the drum 16. If the tape is of the pressure sensitive type, its non-adhesive side is preferably so coated that there is minimal adhesion between this surface and the adhesive side of the tape. As a consequence, the end of the tape may be readily peeled from the roll with minimal stretching.

The housing and cover are secured together and dispensing of the tape is controlled by a locking and dispensing member H formed from a strip of spring material.

The locking and dispensing member is bent near one end to form a cross channel 20 adapted to receive or fit over the web 13. One wall of the cross channel is provided with a prong 21 which projects toward the bottom of the channel so that the channel may he slipped over the web 13 and retained thereon by gripping action of the prong 2 1.

Continuing from the opposite wall of the cross channel 26 is a clip 22 having an offset portion 23 which bears against the side of the dispensing slot 5 adjacent the forward extremity of the forward wall 4. The clip 22 continues from the offset portion 23 contiguous to the forward wall 4 and past the tip 12 of the cover top wall 10 to form an applicator element or applicator plate 24 terminating in a serrated tearing edge 25.

The wall of the cross channel opposite from the prong 21 is also provided with a tongue 26 which bears against the inner side of the housing forward wall 4 so as to force the cover top wall forwardly and rearwardly, causing the latch lip 11 to be retained at the upper margin of the housing rear wall 3.

Continuing from the inner side of the cross channel 26) having the prong 21 is a horizontally and rearwardly directed portion 27 terminating near the roll of tape 18.

Continuing downwardly and forwardly from the rearwardly directed portion 27 is a depending curved portion 28 which merges into a forwardly directed portion 29. The forwardly directed portion protrudes through the dispensing slot 5 a short distance and terminates in a tape releasing element 30 having an inwardly folded extremity 31 located adjacent the offset ortion 23.

Operation of the dispenser is as follows:

The locking and dispensing member 19 is secured to the web 13 of the cover and the applicator element 24 and tongue 26 are forced over the forward extremity of the housing forward wall 4. The latch lip 11 may then be snapped over the upper extremity of the housing rear wall 3. Before assembling the cover on the housing, the roll of tape is mounted on the journal receiving means 8 and the extremity of the tape is threaded through the dispensing slot 5.

When the cover is assembled, the depending curved portion 28 and the forwardly directed portion 29 of the locking and dispensing member 1'9 form a guide for the tape and overlie the non-adhesive side thereof. The forwardly directed portion 29 is biased so that the tape is yieldably pressed against the tape retaining prongs 6. The

exposed portion of the tape overlies the tape releasing element 30 and the applicator element 24 as shown in FIGURE 3.

When it is desired to dispense the tape, the exposed portion of the tape is pressed against a surface causing the tape releasing element 30 to move the forwardly directed guide portion 29 clear of the prongs 6 as shown in FIGURE 4. The housing and cover may then be moved rearwardly causing the tape to unreel from the drum.

When it is desired to sever the tape, the housing and cover are rotated counterclockwise as indicated in FIG- URE bringing the serrated edge 25 against the tape so that the tape may be readily severed. In severing the tape, the forwardly directed guide portion 29 is free to press the tape into engagement with the prongs 30 so that the unused, exposed portion of the tape is prevented from being drawn into the housing.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is not intended to limit the same to the details of the construction set forth, but instead, the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the various parts and their relationships as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pressure sensitive adhesive tape applicator comprising:

(a) a container having means for journalling a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, and defining a slot for dispensing said tape;

(b) tape retaining elements bordering one side of said slot;

(c) a yieldable guide strip secured within said container, extending to said slot and biased toward said retaining elements, said guide strip terminating in a folded end to form adjacent said end a tape releasing element normally protruding slightly from said slot;

(d) and a fixed tape applicator element bordering the side of said slot opposite from said tape retainer elements and terminating in a cutting edge;

(e) said guide strip, releasing element and applicator element adapted to be covered by an end of said tape, said guide strip normally pressing said tape against said retainer elements, said releasing element being depressible into said container to move said guide strip clear of said retaining elements thereby to release said tape for movement from said container along said applicator element.

2. A pressure sensitive adhesive tape applicator comprising:

(a) a container having means for journalling a roll of pressure sensitive adhesive tape, a dispensing wall, a slot in said wall adjacent an end thereof and tape retaining elements bordering the side of said slot remote from the said end;

(b) a tape applicator fixed to said wall between said slot and said end, and having a serrated tearing edge protruding beyond said end of the wall;

(c) and a leaf spring member secured within said container, extending through said slot and having a free end contiguous to said tape applicator;

(d) said leaf spring and tape applicator adapted to be covered by an end of said tape, said leaf spring being biased toward said retaining elements to secure said tape, and the free end of said leaf spring being depressible into said slot to free said tape for movement across said tape applicator.

3. A tape applicator, comprising:

(a) a housing having spaced side walls, a bottom wall, an upstanding back wall and a convex upwardly curving forward Wall defining a slot adjacent its forward extremity, said housing being open at its upper side and including journal means in said side walls (f for rotatably supporting a roll of tape in said housing;

(b) a complementary cover having spaced side walls conforming to the upper margins of the housing side walls, and a convex downwardly curved top wall extending from the upper extremity of the housing back wall to the forward extremity of the housing forward wall, and forming therewith a sharp corner, around which said housing and cover may be pivoted;

(c) tape retaining elements bordering the side of said slot remote from the forward end of said housing forward wall;

(d) a tape applicator extending from said slot and terminating in a serrated edge projecting beyond said sharp corner;

(e) and a leaf spring member secured within said container, extending through said slot and having a free end contiguous to said tape applicator;

(f) said leaf spring and tape applicator adapted to be covered by an end of said tape, said leaf spring being biased toward said retaining elements to secure said tape, and the free end of said leaf spring being depressible into said slot to free said tape for movement across said tape applicator.

4. A tape applicator, comprising:

(a) a housing having spaced side walls, a bottom wall, an upstanding back wall and a convex upwardly curving forward wall defining a slot adjacent its forward extremity, said housing being open at its upper side and including journal means in said side walls for rotatably supporting a roll of tape in said housmg;

(b) a complementary cover having spaced side walls conforming to the upper margins of the housing side walls, and a convex downwardly curved top wall extending from the upper extremity of the housing back wall to the forward extremity of the housing forward wall, and forming therewith a sharp corner, around which said housing and cover may be pivoted;

(c) tape retaining elements bordering the side of said slot remote from the forward end of said housing forward Wall;

(d) interengaging means incorporating the confrontmg extremities of the housing back wall and cover top wall;

(e) a spring clip joining the confronting extremities of said housing forward wall and cover top wall; (f) a tape applicator extending from said slot and termmating in a serrated edge projecting beyond said sharp corner;

(g) and a leaf spring member secured within said contamer, extending through said slot and having a free end contiguous to said tape applicator;

(h) said leaf spring and tape, applicator adapted to be covered by an end of said tape, said leaf spring being biased toward said retaining elements to secure said tape, and the free end of said leaf spring being depressrble into said slot to free said tape for movement across said tape applicator.

5. A tape applicator, comprising:

(a) a housing having spaced side walls, a bottom wall, a bottom wall, an upstanding back wall and a convex upwardly curving forward wall defining a slot adjacent its forward extremity, said housing being open at its upper side and including journal means in said side walls for rotatably supporting a roll of tape in said housing;

(b) a complementary cover having spaced side walls conforming to the upper margins of the housing side walls, and a convex downwardly curved top wall extending from the upper extremity of the housing back wall to the forward extremity of the housing forward wall, and forming therewith a sharp corner,

around which said housing and cover may be piv-' oted;

(c) tape retaining elements bordering the side of said slot remote from the forward end of said housing forward wall;

(d) interengaging means incorporating the confronting extremities of the housing back wall and cover top wall;

(e) a web extending from said cover into said housing and partially overlapping said slot;

(f) a spring element gripping said web and including a clip means engaging the wall of said slot opposite from said retaining elements to secure said housing and cover together;

(g) means for dispensing said tape through said slot including a spring member biased to engage said retaining elements and having an end engageable to free said tape for movement out of said slot and past said sharp corner;

(h) and means at said sharp corner for severing said tape.

6. A tape applicator, comprising:

(a) a housing having spaced side walls, a bottom wall, an upstanding back wall and and a convex upwardly curving forward wall defining a slot adjacent its forward extremity, said housing being open at its upper side and including journal means in said side walls for rotatably supporting a roll of tape in said hous- (b) a complementary cover having spaced side walls conforming to the upper margins of the housing side walls, and a convex downwardly curved top wall extending from the upper extremity of the housing back wall to the forward extremity of the housing forward wall, and forming therewith a sharp corner, around which said housing and cover may be pivoted;

(c) tape retaining elements bordering the side of said slot remote from the forward end of said housing forward wall;

(d) interengaging means incorporating the confronting extremities of the housing back wall and cover top wall;

(e) a Web extending from said cover into said housing and partially overlapping said slot;

(f) and a spring member including means for gripping said web, a clip engaging the wall of said slot adjacent said sharp corner and extending beyond said corner to form a tearing edge, a supporting portion extending into said housing toward said roll of tape from said gripping means, a tape guiding portion extending from the inner end of said supporting portion and terminating in a free tip protruding from said slot, said tape guiding portion being biased to hold said tape against said retaining elements, and said tip being operable to move said guiding portion away from said retaining elements to free said tape for movement past the tearing edge of said clip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,400,435 5/1946 Nelson et al 156-527 2,527,588 10/1950 Sorenson 156527 3,132,783 5/1964 Duncan 156-523 3,187,968 6/1965 Favre 156-527 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. D. J. DR'UMMOND, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE APPLICATOR COMPRISING: (A) A CONTAINER HAVING MEANS FOR JOURNALLING A ROLL OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE TAPE, AND DEFINING A SLOT FOR DISPENSING SAID TAPE; (B) TAPE RETAINING ELEMENTS BORDERING ONE SIDE OF SAID SLOT; (C) A YIELDABLE GUIDE STRIP SECURED WITHIN SAID COMTAINER, EXTENDING TO SAID SLOT AND BIASED TOWARD SAID RETAINING ELEMENTS, SAID GUIDE STRIP TERMINATING IN A FOLDED END TO FORM ADJACENT SAID END A TAPE RELEASEING ELEMENT NORMALLY PROTRUDING SLIGHTLY FROM SAID SLOT; (D) AND A FIXED TAPE APPLICATOR ELEMENT BORDERING THE SIDE OF SAID SLOT OPPOSITE FROM SAID TAPE RETAINER ELEMENTS AND TERMINATING IN A CUTTING EDGE; (E) SAID GUIDE STRIP, RELEASING ELEMENT AND APPLICATOR ELEMENT ADAPTED TO BE COVERED BY AN END OF SAID TAPE, SAID GUIDE STRIP NORMALLY PRESSING SAID TAPE AGAINST SAID RETAINER ELEMENTS, SAID RELEASING ELEMENT BEING DEPRESSIBLE INTO SAID CONTAINER TO MOVE SAID GUIDE STRIP CLEAR OF SAID RETAINING ELEMENTS THEREBY TO RELEASE SAID TAPE FOR MOVEMENT FROM SAID CONTAINER ALONG SAID APPLICATOR ELEMENT. 